If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to be in a fusion of a museum and a public park, then the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is the place for you.

This circular building close to Kenroku Garden is a hub for some of the best in contemporary arts. Their exhibitions change every few months, with pieces ranging from those that use traditional mediums (oil, acrylic, and the like on canvas) to more modern forms of art that have made their way into museums (found objects, acoustics, etc.).

The museum is home to two zones: the exhibition zone, which houses their ever-changing exhibits and can only be accessed by buying a ticket; and the public zones, which house pieces that the public can interact with at any point in the day.

There are certain pieces considered in the public zone, like the interior of Leandro Erlich’s The Swimming Pool (2004) and Anish Kapoor’s L’ Origine du monde (2004) that can only be accessed by buying a ticket for the current exhibit.

The museum also houses its own cafe and restaurant called Fusion21.

Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fusion21 serves dishes made with local Kaga vegetables, based on the concept of “Yet another moving experience at the art museum”, and is run by Maple House.

It’s best to call them ahead of time, though, as it is often booked for private gatherings.

How to get to 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

Take buses from bus terminals 3 and 6 at the East Gate of JR Kanazawa Station. From there, simply get off at Hirosaka 21st Century Museum stop, and you’re pretty much in front of the museum.

You can also take buses from terminals 8-10 at the same gate and get off at Korinbo (ATRIO-mae). From there, you can walk about 5 minutes due east to get to the museum.